KAYSVILLE — Experts agree that water shortages are inevitable this year, mandating a need for conservation.

“We are in critical mode,” Davis and Weber Canal Company general manager Ivan Ray told the Kaysville City Council Tuesday night.

Facing a second year of drought conditions, he said water shortages could be as much as 25 to 40 percent.

Echo Reservoir provides water to the canal company and is at about half the level of 2012, Ray said. The company provides secondary (irrigation) water for all or part of several cities in Davis County from Clinton and South Weber on the north and south to Kaysville.

“I think it’s important we all try to do what we can to conserve,” Ray said.

He requested that the city council consider asking residential water users to water only two times a week for 20-30 minutes per station. That should be between 6 and 10 p.m.

The city council expressed support of conservation but took no formal action.

By contract, West Point has adopted a watering day schedule based on house numbers, as was recommended by the canal company.

Other cities, including Syracuse, have decided to seek further input before taking action, which is anticipated at their May 28 meeting.

Material from the canal company said those who waste or abuse water could have their irrigation systems locked down (shut off) until they can show how they will comply. A fee for removal the lock will be charged.

Insufficient compliance across the system could mean water supplies will run out by mid-summer, the material said.

Those needing to water for special circumstances such as new sod or landscaping can receive window tags, it continued.